Leonardo has confirmed the installation line for the tiltrotor AW609 aircraft at the Grottaglie plant in Taranto. The AW609 is a unique aircraft that combines features of both a helicopter and an airplane. However, the company has also confirmed a four-month stoppage at the plant, which will be managed through ordinary redundancy payments. This information was shared during a meeting between the company and unions at the Unindustria headquarters in Rome.
During the meeting, a delegation from Fim, Fiom, and Uilm unions was present, along with the director of Human Resources at Leonardo, Antonio Liotti. The company expressed its commitment to revitalizing the Grottaglie hub by diversifying its industrial activities beyond the production of fuselages for Boeing 787. The plan includes bringing the second assembly line of the AW609, which is of Italian origin, to Grottaglie while the first line remains in the United States.
While the choice of the AW609 has been confirmed, negotiations between the company and the unions are ongoing to manage the economic implications of the lower production of fuselages for the Boeing 787. Boeing’s plan includes a decrease in the number of fuselage recalls from Grottaglie, which poses challenges for the production pace at the plant. The plan may involve utilizing the ordinary redundancy fund and adjusting production methods to align with Boeing’s demand.
The parties are discussing organizational methods to address the lower production levels, which could include temporary closure of the production line or slowing down production. Leonardo is hoping to reach a unified agreement with the unions in the next meeting scheduled for July 15. The company aims to find a sustainable solution to overcome the challenges posed by the changes in Boeing’s program while maintaining the operations and viability of the Grottaglie plant.